The economic miracle which Japan achieved in the late 50s and 1960s was a vindication of the postwar policies of both the USA and new Japanese government. The formation of Japan Air Lines not only contributed to this boom but also began to aid Japan's rehabilitation amongst it's Asian neighbours. JAL's early success was built on a foundation of Douglas propliners and this would continue into the 60s with its first pure jets.

By mid-1950 Braniff had acquired permission from the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to compete head to head with Pan Am and the Grace Shipping Company's airline Pan American-Grace Airways (Panagra) on long-haul services to destinations as far south as Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. This direct competition was far cry from the sedate anti-competitive nature of domestic US services and necessitated the best levels of service and equipment. At the same time it also created serious enmity between the two airlines.

Flying long-haul during the 1950s was a prestigious activity and competition between the major airlines, in what was a heavily regulated environment, was mainly down to two things - quality of service and speed. To that end the airframe manufacturers spend their times trying to outwit each other in an arms race to create the fastest aircraft possible with the longest range. The two most successful manufacturers at the time were Lockheed and Douglas and their Constellation and DC-6/7 families took piston liners to the edge of the envelope.

Following the forced withdrawal of the Comet 1 BOAC was placed firmly on the backfoot, for though Britain had a worldbeater in the Vickers Viscount British manufacturers had failed miserably in providing a viable long range transport during the 1940s and early 50s. The Tudor, Brabazon, Hermes and Comet 1 had all fallen by the wayside leaving only the Whispering Giant: Bristol's Britannia carrying the torch for the UK. However the Brit was suffering monstrous delays of its own leaving BOAC with a quandary during 1954.

Pacific Western Airlines had been formed as a bush-flying enterprise in 1946 named Central British Columbia Airlines. Between 1949 and 1952 it acquired seven other bush-flyers and became PWA in 1953. True operation as a scheduled regional airline (one of five) began in 1959 when Canadian Pacific transferred route authority for 18 services from Edmonton to Northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories. This was just the start and PWA would grow not only to become the most successful of the five regionals but also to eventually takeover CP Air and join the big time...

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I'm Richard Stretton: a fan of classic airliners and airlines who enjoys exploring their history through my collection of die-cast airliners. If you enjoy the site please donate whatever you can to help keep it running: